Gosh this feels so weird, but here goes. Some of my favorite passages from
my own published works. And the last two from my novels in progress. I also did
some quotes from some poems of mine that were based on fairy tales. Don't know
how fairy tales fit into the specfic theme. -C
âTell us, Sir Knight,â they asked, âwhy you brought this heathen woman to
us. We see by your clothing that you have come from fighting in Palestine. We
know you are as holy a man as any of us. Therefore tell us, is this woman a
slave of yours, a prize earned in your many battles? Or is she some princess?
For dark though she be, she is beautiful to look upon. Was she given to you as
booty by some great king?â - Carole McDonnell, "Black is the color of my true
love's hair" Published in Fantastic Visions III Edited by William Horner
"For we are Godâs children and this woman is a dark heathen, without
knowledge of God and with no power to understand spiritual matters were they
explained to her, for far be those heathenish people from salvation or even good
sense. It is obvious to me that no true friendship can ever grow between such a
great lord and such a woman." Carole McDonnell, "Black is the color of my true
love's hair" Published in Fantastic Visions III Edited by William
Horner
The woman from beyond the Two Hills continued, âAlready the children
of our village no longer dance to the light at our festivals. They insist on
âSound-dances,â preferring âmusicâ to light. They hide their natures, clans, and
status. They do not wear their clan colors. Some of our marriageable young
girls refuse to wear the courtship tassels. They refuse to give the world
knowledge of themselves. Itâs a perverse game they play. Yesterday, at the
beginning of the Mother-Infant Festival, some children insisted on
mouth-singing, even though their parents could not understand a word they
said. And when they talk, they hide their conversations, imitating
the mouth-speakers' mouth-to-ears talk, what the Earthers callâ âthis she
finger-spelled in English-- ââwhispers.ââ - Carole McDonnell "Lingua Franca"
Published in So Long Been Dreaming: Post-Colonialism in Science Fiction. Edited
by Nalo Hopkinson
I do not like the name: Snow White.No one could be that pure.But,
accepting it, let us move on. -- Carole McDonnell "Snow White" Published by
Hudson River Arts Review.
Itâs small the pea. Some little comment. -- Carole
McDonnell "The Princess and the Pea" Published by The Hudson River Arts
Review.
My mother built ivory towers too.They loomed high, without windows or
walls or laddersand she put me and herself inside.-- Carole McDonnell
"Rapunzel" Published by the Hudson River Arts Review.
There are some women who truly feel themselves to be ideal.There
are some women who cannot see their own fraud.There are some women who have
crooked measuring sticks.This poem is not for them.We know all too well
that we are not perpetual joys.We know the day will come when Prince
Charmingwill see us covered with ashessitting beside the cinders. --
Carole McDonnell "Cinderella" Hudson River Arts Review.
I donât think I can adequately describe the feeling of intimacy and
personal attachment that this person seemed to feel for me. -- Carole
McDonnell "That Smile" Then Along Came an Angel. Published by Pleasant Word
Books. Edited by Julie Bonn Heath.
We donât see a lot of mixed couples around here, and weâre not like some of
the other states in the Confederate United Republic. Itâs not like theyâre gonna
get killed or lynched or nothing. But itâs tough just the same. And although
itâs weird enough that theyâre an interracial couple, it seems to me that
theyâre arguing about something bigger than merely coming into this cafe. I
donât know any Blacks. You got to go to Laramie, or Cheyenne to see them. But I
watch Cosby when itâs on. The Confederacy ainât as bad as the folks in Columbia
might think. Sure everyoneâs segregated, but itâs all equal and the Platte
County school district is pretty good about African-American History Month. --
Carole McDonnell "Homecoming at the Borderlands Cafe" Jigsaw Nation. (Wildside
Books) Edited by Ekaterina Sedia.
âAnd you are not weak or lacking in morals?â âI am not. I have
told you that I am a reinforced wall. No door of mine is opened to you. Only my
husband can enter me.â -- Carole McDonnell "The Wind Follower" (specfic
historical novel.)
Gray Wolf stooped by the waterâs edge washing Davidâs blood from his knife.
He gazed up with surprised eyes at his friend, Maelstrom. âThis killing
does not satisfy. I thought it would. But revenge does not
heal.âMaelstrom nodded then turned toward the horizon. âThe humans
have always known this. But come now. The deed is done. Return your ladyâs
body to the convent. Perhaps the Silent One will there heal your
heart.âDavid Haskinsâ service to his lord had ended. Which of us knows
our great and supreme
